UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PROFILE, PERCEPTION, NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS AT A MEXICAN PRIVATE UNIVERSITY

The purpose of this study is to characterize undergraduate students’ socio-demographic and academic profile; understand their perception of faculty, student services, their courses and learning; identify their priority needs, motivations and expectations regarding their studies at a Mexican private university.

Data were collected from a survey questionnaire applied to 267 students who are in the middle of their undergraduate studies at a Mexican private university. The survey questionnaire is comprised of 108 items and it measures students’ socio-demographic profile; academic profile; learning strategy preferences; competences self-assessment; evaluation of student services, courses, faculty and university experience; learning needs; and career expectations.

Findings show an exhaustive description of the students, enabling faculty and authorities to make better decisions and implement improvements tailored to the needs and expectations of present day students. Findings also set the base line to start a longitudinal follow up of the student population. The value of the findings is that they provide an understanding of the aforementioned university’s students in a comprehensive way, thus enabling the university to improve policy and strategies. The more information available the better quality of decisions made.